Voting-machine.



YPATENTED AUG. 25, 1908.

c. w. Bownou.

VOTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DBO.18, 1902.

e sums-SH ET 1.

PATENTED AUG. 25, 1908. cgw. IBOWRON. VOTING MACHINE.) APPLICATION FILED-DBO. 18, 1902'v Ga -.3 S T .Nb. 897,056;- PATENTED AUG.I25, 190s.

' c. w. BOWRON.

VOTING MACHINE. APPLIQATION PILED 13130.18, 1902.

6 sums-$11335? 4'.

1N0. 897,056.. PATENTED AUG. 25, 1908.

G. W. BOWRON.

VOTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEG. 18, 1902.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

J 6 J 9 1 v PATENTBD AUG. '25, 1908. 0. W. BOWRONJ VOTING MACHINE;-

APPLIOATION FILED DEC. 13,; 1902.

' 6 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

CHARLES w; BowRonloF OSHKOSH, WISGONSIN.

VOTING- nsomnia.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 25, 1908.

Application filed December is, 1902. seriarnaiss ai.

T aliwhom it may concern: Be it known that I, CHARLES W. BowRor'I, residing at Oshkosh, in the county of Winnebago and State of Wisconsin, have invented a new: and useful Improvement in Voting- Machines, of which thelfollowing is a descrip tion, reference being had to the accompanyfing drawings, which are a part of this specification.

. one of several straight party tickets having severally for additional persons, or for ersons or measures lrrespective of party tlck- The object. of -my invention is to provide an impfoved machine or apparatus, adapted to ena le a person to .vote at an election any a plurality of names=there,on, or for individua candidates on any one of such tickets, or

ets; the machine being adapted to enable a person'to'vote in conformity with the Australian ballot system,- or in such general and specific manner as is provided for by the constitution; and lawsof many of the States, and

I especiall'y of Wisconsin, 'and to have such voteautomatically registered and counted.

described is adapted for all the purposes of The machine in the form herein shown and I an. election in many of the States, and with obvious and sli ht changes, can be readily adapted to enab e a person therewith to vote inconformitywith the laws .of most or all the States. The novel mechanism or apparatus in which the invention is embodied, is

simple, compact, strong, reliable and easily operated, and can, be manufactured at a minimum of cost. i

The invention consists of the mechanism or apparatus, its parts and combinations of equivalents thereof...

In the drawings, Figure l. is aside elevation of a casefor my ;im roved voting machine, in connection wit 7 table or stationary support for the case; and.

a. fragment of a showing a movable p atform (broken away medially) on which the voter stands 'while using the machine. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the voting machine and platform (the platform being broken awaymedially) with a fragment of the supporting means. Fig. 3

plate'of Fig. 2 being removed, exhibiting the:

construction beneath that plate. Fig. 4 is a transverse, vertical section on line4-4 of Fig. 3. Fig, 5 is a longitudinal, vertical section on line 5-5 of Fig. 4. v Fig. 6 is a plan, a part being broken away, of the under side of di'sk conduits shown in Fig. 11. is a vertical, longitudinal section of a disk of the u able-on line 6;6 of Fig. 4. Fig. 7 is a view, partly in section, of, two of the three conduits for disks shown near the to in Fig.- 3. Fig. 8 is a plan of the same dis conduits shown in Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is a view of one of the disk conduitslocated medially in Fig. 3.

Fi 10 is a transverse, vertical section of the dis conduit shown in Fig. 9. Fig. 11 is an elevation at one side of one set (two) of the 1 four sets of disk conduits at the bottom in Fig. 3. Fig. 1-2 is al'topplan view of the set conduit of the form shown in Fig. 9, with a disk "in place in the conduit. Fig. 14 is a disk of the most desirable form adapted to be em lofyed by a voter for casting his vote with tliis machine; the disk bein here re resented of a size conforming wit the sea e of the machine as shown in Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive- .Fi 15 shows a form, of many forms, of dis that can be used with this machine, in lieu of the circular form of disk 1 shown in other figures,

For mounting and inclosing the operative parts of. my improved apparatusor machine, and for obtaining certam desirable results in connectionwith the operative mechanism or apparatus, I provide a case which is prefera yconstructed in an upper section A and a lower section B, the case being preferably in oblong rectangular form and the upper section beingadvisably hinged at one end to the per portionof the apparatus remov lower section, and providedwitha hasp C or some equivalent means for securing the upr er section of the case detachably to the parts, as herein described and claimed, or the) ower section thereof. While some of the parts embodying my invention might properly be denominatedapparatus, rather than mechanism, yet for the purpose of this applisuchform specifically, as will best'adapt it for the purpose forwhich it is to be employed. p The lower section of the case while. it is cmis a plan view of the-machine, the top slotted ployed tosupport the upper section, con

while most of the operative mechanism is mounted on the upper section of the case.

In the drawingsQis .a'plate advisably of .metal within and -entirelyacross .Itheupper' section of the ease, and which for convenrence of attachment thereto, 1s placed upwardly against a rab bet or ledge-medially of' and discharge downwardly through slots in the plate 2. These conduits so far at least, as they represent the means for casting a ballot or vote for party candidates, or for individual nominations, are arranged in columns (vertically of Fig. 3), and in rowslaterally of these columns. A urpose of tlus arrangement, so far as voting 1S'CO11- cerned, may be got by referring to Fig. 2 in which the ballot plate 4 is seen, which ballot plate is secured to'the top of the upper section of the case over the conduits, the ballot plate being provided with slots that correspond to and-register with the conduits 3 on the conduit plate. 011 this ballot plate it -will be observed that there are four columns of slots, and that they are designated respectively Democratic Republican Prohibition Individual nominations For convenience of reference these columns may be respectively denominated D R P I. At the head of the party columns, that is the Democratic, Republican and Prohibition columns there is a slot and conduit indicated respectively as 5, 5 5, the slots in the ballot plate 4 being understood to be merely a continuation of the registering conduits 3 on the conduit plate 2. There is no corresponding slot or conduit at the head of the individual nominations column. columns the row of slots and conduits 6 6 6 6 are arranged in a row laterally, as are also the several slots and conduits of the several columns succeeding (below in Fig. 2) the first complete row of slots and conduits.

On the ballot plate each row of slots from those marked 6 6 6 and 6 are understood to be the slot and conduit for receiving the ballot of thevoter for the same officer,'tliat is to say, the first row, asthey are marked on the ballot plate (Fig. 2)-are to receive a ballot for governor, the secondrow for lieu tenant governor, the third row a ballot for secretary of state etc. The sets of slots of two each arranged at the foot of the sev-. eral columns and marked respectively 7 7 7 and 7 C are provided for casting a vote, either yes or no, for any s ecific measure, as for or. against an amen ment to. the constitution. These sets of slots and conduits may be denominated specific measure conduits, and thethree columns of slots and conduits, other than these specific measure conduits, may be denominated partyv ticket conduits, and the fourth column, other than But in all of these the set of specific measure conduits may be denominated individual nomination conduits. Each of these conduits is of such size laterally as to permit of the easy passage through it, of a disk D, and is advisably of a height substantially equal to the diameter of the disk. These disks may be of metal, or of any suitable material, and are preferably circular or in true disk form, though other forms, as an oval (Fig.- 15), or )olygonal disk may be employed. Each conduit is provided with ,a conduit keeper 8 advisably in bell-crank form pivoted in an upper and outer corner of the conduit, which is open at that end therefor. /Vhen this keeper is locked in the position that is assumes normally by gravity as shown in Fig. 7, it closes the conduit to such extent that a disk can not be passed into the conduit. When the keeper is not looked, a disk may be forced into the conduit from the top shown in Fig. 13, and the keeper 8 tilts and permits the passage of the disk through the conduit.

Immediately under the conduit plate 2, there is a late 9 s bstantially as large as the conduit p ate, exc pt that this plate 9 is a little shorter than the plate 2 (Fig. 5) providing for the movement of the plate 9, which I denominate the shutter plate. This plate 9 is supported and is movable endwise on ways 10, 10 which may be in the form of brackets secured to the side walls of the upper section of the case, the ways being preferably fprovided with bearing balls 11, providing or the easy movement of the plate on its ways. This shutter plate is provided with slots corresponding to and registering with the conduitslots in the conduit plate, except that'at that end which is at the top in Figs. '2 and 3, the shutter plate ends at the con d uits 5, 5 5 and does not close these conduits, when the plate is in the position shown in Fig. 5, in which the other conduits are also 0 en, or when, in other words, the slots in the s utter-plate register with the slots in the conduit plate. The shutter plate is held in this position yieldingly by a spring 12 (Fig. 6) attached to the shutter late and connected to the case by means 0 a bracket 13, and a screw threaded tension rod 14 connected to the spring and passing through the bracket. Inthis initial position of the shutter plate 9 in which it is held yieldingly by the spring 12 the slots 15, 15 therein correspond to and register with the slots of the several series 6, 6 etc., and 7, 7 etc. of the ballot late conduits, and the conduit late, and the plate 9 terminates just at t e edge of the slots 5, 5, 5", so that these slots or conduits are also unobstructed by the plate 9. (Figs. 5, 6.) B shifting this shutter plate 9 (toward the rig t in Figs. 5 and 6) all of the conduits are closed b the late, and means are provided, whic are hereinafter described, for shifting the plate so as to close the conduits,

se'noce while the voter is depositing his'votein the machine, and also means for shifting and locking the shutter-plate when the'votes of the electionhave all been cast.

For automatically countingthe votes or ballots cast for party candidates, and for the 'istering revolutions or movements. These counters are mounted on the shutter'9, one

.alongside of each slot 15, of the slots ,that

register with the conduits of the party columns and also with the conduits of the spenominations class.

cific measure class. No' counters are em.- ployed with the conduits of the individual Each of these'counters is provided with a radial actuating arm 17 fixed on the shaft of the counter, which arm projects through a slot 18v in the shutter plate 9 and into a registering slot in the conduit plate 2.

cept the several slots 15 that areprovided in. the POSitlOIiShOWIliIl Fig ing a part 0 medially alongside the conduit into an auxil with counters. In the conduit plate2 the corresponding slots 18 not only correspond to an register with the slots 18 in the plate 9, at one side of the conduit slots, but they extend across and beyondthe conduit slots 6-, 6 etc. in the conduit plate (Figs. 5, 6, 9, 10.). Each counter is provided with a s ring (not shown) for holding the arm 17 yieldmgly 10, and means hereinafter described provide for engaging the counter arm 17 tem orarily and releas ably and tilting it when t 1e shutter plate 9-is shifted reciprocally, whereby the counters are made'to enumerate the shifting movement and register it by proper registering devices with numerals thereon.

In connection with each of-the. conduits in the party columns DR and P and of all of the conduits in, the specific-measure class, with which counters are employed, there is pro-' vided an endwise shifting bar 19,19 or 19', which may be denominated a locking/bar .mounted in ways therefor on the side ofthe conduits, which ways may be brackets 20,.20 fixed on the sides of theconduits. The bars 19, 19* 19 are shiftable endwise on these :ways, andeach bar 19 of the straight arty columns is rovided with a member 21 orm- Ethe bar which projects therefrom 'iary slot 22 intercepting the slot v18 in the conduit plate, and into. the path of the counter arm 17 (Figs. 6, 9, 10.)v These locking bars 19 (except those on conduits 5, 5 and 5*,with whichno counters are employed) are each provided with a contracting spring 23, which is'connected to the'locking bar and Theseslots 18 in the shutter plate are at one side medially of and inter" 'mo'st clearly shown in Fig. 9.

to a wrist r0324 on radial arms 25, 25 on a rockeshaft 26, mounted revolubly on the con duit plate. -.There. is a rock-shaft 26 alongside the several conduits of each party co umn of conduits, and each rock-shaft is ro vided with a contracting spring 27 .attaci ed to aradial finger 28 onthe rocksshaft and anchored in some manner to the conduit plate, by which' the rock-shaft and its wrist rod are held yieldingly in the initial position shown best in Figs. 4, 7, 8 and 9, in which the wrist rod 24 is located close to the ends of the bars 19, and each member 21 of the bars 19 is against an end wall of a slot 22, at that end of the slot which is nearest the rock-shaft 26.

As shown in the drawings and as advisably constructed, the member 21 of the bar 19, is

at one side of the bar, and is located in the plane of one wall of-a conduit, in a recess therefor in the wall of the conduit.

(Figs. 9', 10.)

In connection with the conduits of the 6, 6 etc. class which represent the names of the several candidates for the several oflices to be voted for, each row of conduits is provided with a coupling bar 29, which. is mounted so as to beshiftable endwise'on the sides of the severalconduits of the row of conduits. The ways for mounting the bar 29 may be brackets 30, 3O fixed on the sides of two or more of the conduits. Each of these bars is provided with pins 31, each of which pins passes through slots 32 therefor in the walls of the conduit and is engaged by a post 33 fixed in the bar 19 (Figs. 9, 10). By this construction the several locking bars 19 in connection with each row of conduits are 1 coupled together as shown in Figs. 3, 9 and 10,

and in the initial'positions thereof as shown in Figs. 3 and 9, the pin 31 is located across the passage of the disk throu h the conduit, at a distance from the end wa l of the conduit, as By this con struction, when a disk is inserted in the conduit, as illustrated in Fig. 13, the keeper 8 is uptilted and the coupling bar 29 and the lockingv bar 19 are shifted from the positions shown in Fig. 9, to those shown and indicated in Fig. 13, in connection with the particular conduit, through which the disk is passing. There are keeper pins 34, 34 projecting laterally from the coupling bar 29, which when 1.3 are advanced near to and in front of the downwardly projecting arms of the keepers the-bar 2.9 is shifted endwise by forcing a disk into a. conduit in the manner shown in Fig.

8, of the otherconduits in the same row of o'ther conduits are prevented from being,

making it impossible so long as those keepers conduits, whereby the keepers 8v in those;-

are thus lockedby the coupling bar, for any one to-insert a disk in anyof the conduits thus closed by the keepers 8. understood that on inserting a disk D into a It should be" adapted, automatically in certain functions,

to control the operations and capabilities of the other conduits and their mechanisms in the'same columns, not including the conduits for votes for specific measures howeveiyso that, by inserting a disk in any one of these conduits 5, 5 or 5 the entire party ticket may be voted. To this extent these conduits 5, 5 and 5 with the mechanisms 1 related thereto, may be said to be master conduits. In connection with each of these master conduits 5, 5 and 5 there is a bar v conduits.

19 which is mounted and is adapted to slide endwise on the conduit substantially like the bars 19 on other conduits, but these bars 19 are not provided with the stop member 21, nor with a spring corresponding to 23. V These bars 19* 'are each provided with a pin which extends up from the barv and laterally in slots therefor across the conduit, substantially as the pins 31 extend across other On the other side of these master conduits there is a coupling bar 36 mounted and slidable endwise on the conduits, which bar is provided with posts 37, 37 disposed to engage severally a pin 35. This coupling bar 36 is provided with a contracting spring 38 anchored to the case and adapted to hold the bar yieldingly in initial position, toward the left in Fig. 3. As the posts 37 engage the pins 35 on the distant sides thereof,

. the bars 19 are held yield ingly at the limit of their travel in the same direction, the pins 35 being at that end of the slots 32 therefor in the conduits. Each of the bars 19 is provided with a pin 39 projecting laterally therefrom so disposed that when a disk D i is inserted in one of these master conduits and by its contact with and wedging effect -on the pin 35 it shifts the bar 19 endwise,

the pin 39 engages the adjacent finger-'28 on the rock-shaft 26, which is alongside this conduit and all of the conduits 6, 6 etc. of the same columns, and so tilts the rock-shaft as to throw the wrist rod 24 against the ad jacent ends of the locking bars 19 and when the disk has entered the conduit to the eX- tent and substantially as shown in Fig. 13, it will have so moved the locking bars 19 that the members 21 will be across the slots 18 and in the paths of the counter arms 17 so as to be adapted to be engaged thereby.

- The coupling bar U6 is also provided with pins 40 projecting laterally therefrom and sewers so disposed that when a disk is inserted in any one of these master conduits, the disk first uptilts the keeper 8 in. the manner shown in Fig. 13 and thereafter shifts the coupling bar 86 bringing the pins 40 up to and in front of the depending arms of the keepers 8, on the others of these master conduits, thereby closing the other master conduits against capability of taking a disk while the mechanism is so locked.

Inconnection with the specific measure conduits 7, 7 etc., which are arranged in sets of two, each conduit is provided with a bar 19 (Figs. 3, 11, 12) each mounted on the side of a conduit, and each provided with a pin- 41 projecting laterally in'slots thereforthrough the conduit, the pin being disposed with referenceto the conduit substantially as the pins 31 and 35 are disposed with reference to other conduits. A contracting spring 42 attached to the in 41, is anchored to the conduit, and is a apted to hold the bar 19 at the limit of its travel in one direction, as shown in Figs. 11 and 12. These bars 19 are also each provided with an elongated keeper-locking pin 43, so disposed that when a disk is inserted in either one of the conduits 7, the bar 19 of that conduit is shifted endwise to such extent as to bring the in 43 on the shifted bar up in front of t e downwardly projecting arm of the keeper 8 of the other conduit of the set, and lock it in position closing the conduit sothat no disk can be inserted in that other conduit, while a disk is in the conduit of the set selected for inserting a disk.

It has herein before been stated that the shutter plate 9 is initially in the position shown clearly in Figs. 5 and 6, in which the disk conduits are open. through the ballot plate 4, through the conduits and the conduit plate, and through the therewith registering shutter plate 9. But-when this machine is being employed by a voter for casting his vote, that is for balloting for the several candidates or measures for which he desires to cast his vote, the shutter plate must be shifted so as to close the conduits, that the voter may load the machine with thenecessary disks or ballots for casting the entire vote he is entitled to cast at any election. For this purpose the voting machine is placed in a booth or stall to which a single voter only may have access at one time, and

in this booth or stall there is a platform 44 (Fig. 1) so disposed that the voter who comes to the machine for voting will stand on the platform and thereby depress it against the action of a spring 45 that supports it normally yieldingly. This platform is connected by a rod 46 to a crank arm 47 on a rock-shaft mounted in the case, which rock-shaft has a radial arm 49 adapted to engage a lug 50 fixed on the shutter plate 9. A spring 51 aids in holding the r k-shaft and its radial mm 49in the initial position shown in Fig. 5."

-"'The construction is such that when thevoter spring 12.

In connection with the movement of the platform and the shifting of the shutter late an alarm bell 52 is provided, which a arm hell is mounted on the inside of-the case, and

crahklever 54.

distant end to the radial arm 49 is provided I at its free end, with a hook, which when the at. ammer 53 on the free end of a cranked lever 54 is ada ted to strike the bell and sound it. Fort is purpose the cranked arm 54 is pivoted on the case and is provided with av strong spring 55 adapted to throw the hammer against the bell, and with a lighter spring '56 adapted tohold the hammer yield-- ingly a little away fromjthe bell. A tripping dog'57 is pivoted onthe'outer arm of the A rod 58 attached at its rod'is'shifted endwise the tilting of the radial arm 49, contacts inits forward movement with the tripping dog 57 and passes it, and on its returnmovement engages the trip ping dog andv swings the hammer 53 back until the. hoop slips ofi the tripping dog,

, when the hammer under the action of the spring strikes the bell. The rod 58 is supported movably endwise, in "ways or brackets therefor on the. case. For counting 40 the numberof ersons who vote with this machine atan eilection, I rovide a counter 59 mounted on the case which counter may be of the samegenera character as those marked 16, which counter is provided with a radial arm 60 disposed to engage and be controlled by pins or collars 61, 61 on the rod 58,

one at each side thereof,. whereby as the platform is depressed and raised and the rod 58 correspondingly shifted, the counter will be actuated to number and register 1 The lower section'B of the case besides. being a portion of the inclosing case of the,

machine, and besides being the support for the upper section A, is divided into com= partments and .serves as a receptacle (with numerous compartments), for the disks or ballots as cast by the voter. There-is a general compartment 62 rovided with an inclined floor 63 descending toward one side of the case, a portion 64 of which side is hinged at the bottomto the floor of the compartment and the bottom of the case and is pro-.

vided with a lock and key 65 adapted to secure the free edge of this leaf ortion of the wall, to the adjacent edge 9!" e side wall of the sectionof the case, when the leaf is closed up. .This leaf is also provided with an in- 'wa'rdly rojecting ledge'or tem o'rary wall 66, whic1 when the leaf is let own in the manner shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4 serves as an outer wall for the tray formed thereby in connection with the general compartment 62. Collapsible end walls 67, 67 are provided for this tray, constructed advisably of webbing secured to the ends of the temporary wa lls. 66, and to the edges of the floor 63, so thatwhen the leaf 64 is let down as shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, a tray is provided at the foot of the inclined floor 63, for receiving the disks or v ballots as they roll down the floor 63, and holding them in accessible and convenient position for being taken up'by the voterto e placed in the conduits for casting his vote.

This general compartment 62 is beneath,and

is adapted. to take the disks or ballotsfrom all the conduits, exce t only from the conduits of the column tions) in the group or class of conduits 6.

(individual nomina-.'

For receiving and holding the disks or ballots east through these conduits 6 (individual nominations), and holding the disks or bal.

lots separately until the close of the election and until they are removed and counted,

there are a series of individual compartments 68, 68, arranged is secti'on B, below the conduits in the column% and of the group 6. These compartments 68-besides being immediatel belo'w'the conduits of the rou 6 as state also extend laterally un er t e inclined floor 63, so as to give them greater capacity. A portion of the other side wallof the lower section of the case is in the form of a leaf or door 69 hinged to the floor of the case and provided witha lock and key 7 0 adapted to secure its. upper edge releasably to the case, whereby access ca ibe had to these individual compartments for removing the disks or ballots therefrom. This leaf or door extends substantially the entirelengthof the case.

As herein beforestated these conduits of the group 6? are provided for ermitting the voter to cast a ballot, by dis for any per- -son' of his preference for any oflice to be voted for, inde endently of a party ticket, and to enable t evoter to do this, the ballot,

which with this machine is a disk, must be of ,some material that the voter can write or print the name of the person on, for whom he A disk made of" esires to cast his .vote'. white or light colored apier Ina'ch or any other material that con d be readil formed into the proper shape, and on whic a name could be written or rmted would be suitable uch disk ballot could be for this urpose. cast'in t ese individual nominations conduits (6 andthere being no automaticcounters m connection with these conduits, the-disk ballots are received and held in the individual compartments 68 untilthey are removed and. counted at the close of the election. The

. charged into the general compartment 62,

and may be used immediately afterward by each succeeding voter for casting his vote.

At the closeof the election a person in charge of the voting machine may step on the platform 44 thereby shifting the shutter plate 9 so as to close all the disk conduits, and then by means of the locks 71, 71 on the case throw the bolts of the looks into bolt holes therefor'in the shutter plate thereby closing the conduits, against any ca bilit f either receiving or permitting of the removal of any disk ballot. There are two of these locks, and the key of, one can be given to one oficer and the other key to another officer of the elect-ion board, so as far as possible to provide against tampering with the ballots or counting mechanism. handling the voting machine, the rod 46 may be made in two parts coupled together at 72, and at the close of the voting the rod can be separated at this point. The tray or leaf 64 is then closed up and locked and the machine becomes a tightly inclosed case, as it will be understood that the leaf or door 69 is closed and locked before the election begins, as also the upper section A of the case is locked to the lower section B. 1

When my improved machine is to be used I at an election, the ballot plate 4 may be prepared therefor by having the names of the parties printed thereon at the heads of straight party ticket columns; Individual nominations or some other proper designation at the head of the other column; and other required or proper statements may be printed on the plate in connection with the Separate measure conduits, so asto inform the voter properly and sufficiently of the party ticket and candidates and measures for which he desires tovote, and these several columns and the space in which are the separate measure conduits, may be ainted in different colors so that each straight party column will be indicated throughout by onecolor, and the separate measure conduits will be indicated by a space of another color, etc. And it should also be understood that while in the drawings I have shown only three columns for straight arty tickets, and one column for individuzil nominations, my invention is not limited to a machine having only so many columns or so many conduits as shown in the drawings herewith, but the colunins and conduits may be increased in number to such extenhas desired. With this eneral preparation of the ballot plate, thetop section A of the case is locked to the lower section, the leaf or door 69 is closed and locked, the leaf or tray-64 is opened, and the platform 44 by its rod 46 is connected to the For convenience of aeaose operative relation with the shutter 9. ,The machine is then ready to receive disk ballots. A supply of these disk ballots are placed inthe tray of the compartment 62 so as to be conveniently obtainable, by the voter. The ballots that are to be cast for individual nominations, must as herein before described, be of such material as to enable the voter to write the name of his candidate thereon. The voter coming into the booth or stall where the machine is located, will step on the platform 44 thereby shifting the shutter plate 9 so as to close all the conduits, and he will remain in this position untilhe has completed casting his vote. If he desires to cast a straight party ticket vote, he will tent shown in Fig. 13, when it will rest on the shutter plate 9. As this disk is thus forced down into the conduit, it will shift the bar 19 in connection with that conduit whereby the cou ling bar 36 will also be shifted endwise lociing all the keepers in that row; and at the same time by the shifting of bar 19 and the impingement of pin 39-upon lever 28 the rock-shaft 26 alongside that conduit and all the conduits of the straight party ticket in the same column, will be oscillated to such extent as to throw the wrist rod 24- in front of the keepers 8 of all of the conduits in that party ticket column, so that no disk ballot can be cast for any individual candidate in that particular party column. But if the voter desires to cast his vote for any particular candidate of another 'party or individual, as for instance for attorney general, he can place a disk ballot in a conduit of the attorney general row of conduits in either of the other columns, and force it down in the conduit against the shutter plate. Thereby the coupling bar 29 of that row of conduits will be shifted bringing the pins 34 up in front of the keepersv in all the other conduits in that row, so that no other disk ballot can be placed in a conduit for a candidate for the same office. The voter can also vote for any as for the attorney general, and with the same result so far as locking the other conduits in the same row of conduits that is for the same office. The voter can then vote for any one or all of the specific measures, either for or against it, by inserting a disk ballot in the conduit Yes, or the conduit No in connection with the measure desired to be voted upon, and it will be understood that when the disk is inserted in the conduit down against the shutter plate, it-will shift the bar 19 on that conduit so that the pin 43 there on will be brought in front of the keeper 8 on the other conduit of the set, thus closing that other conduit against the possibility of any disk being inserted in it andthus preventing crank arm 4'7, whereby the platform is put in insert a disk in one of the conduits 5, 5 or 5 and push it down in the conduit to the 6X-.

other specific candidate in the same manner initial position (Fig. 9) atone side of the slot .18 to ya second position, across the slot 18 and in the path of the counter arm 1.7, so that the voter from casting 'a'ballot both for and I against any measure. When the voter has thus loaded the conduits with disks representing the entire vote he desiresto cast, he

steps'ofl' the platform 44and immediately the shutter plate 9 is shifted permitting the disks to be discharged into the compartments below. It will be notedi'that the coupling bars on these several rows of conduits are so located that the pins projecting laterally therefrom across the conduits (31,

'35, 41) are engaged wedgingly by the disk as "it is pushed into the conduit, whereby the coupling bars are shifted, and that when the disk has reached its seat-on the shutter 9,

'these'pins are abovethe'horizontal plane of the center of the disk, so that when the. disks are no longer supported by the shutter plate, the action of the springs onthe coupling bars against the disk wedgingly forced the disk downwardly, discharging it from the conduit into the compartment below. i The keepers 8 are also so formed and mounted, that they serve as a horizontally opposite and counteracting bearing on the disk, opposite these pins on. the coupling bars (Fig. 13).

It must also be understood that when the voter steps on the platform 44 and shifts the shutter plate 9, the counters 16 are carried therewith to such extent that their-arms 17 are shifted in the slots therefor in the conduit plate to the distant sides of the conduit slots, and that-when a disk is inserted in any one of the master conduits 5, 5 or 5*, the locking bars 19 of all the conduits of the straight party ticket of that column are shifted so as to move the member 21 on each bar from its when the shutter plateis released and returns party,

to its initial position, the bars 19 still remain- -ing in the -ositions indicated, the counter arms 17 wi engage'and be tripped by the 21 thus actuating thecounters in connection with this entire party ticket. But if the voter after placing his (llSk ballot in the master conduit 5, 5? or 5 whereby he 'would vote for the entire )arty ticket, de-

sires to vote for some can idate of another or an individual not a party candidate for an particular oflice, as for attorney genera he places his disk in one of the other conduits for attorney general and pushes it down against theshutter, and thereby shifts 1 the coupling bar 29 in connection with that" row of conduits tosil'ch extent asto shift the member21 on the several bars 19 of that row, t a third posi-tionion the distant side of the slot 18Fthereby moving the member 21-out the 'path of the counter arm 17 in the straight party column, so that the counter arm 17 in that column will not be engaged thereby, and; in fact moving the member 21 each of the conduits. of this row, )beyond the slot 18 of each of the conduits, but the disk itself which has been inserted in this other conduit becomes a stop in this other conduit, which when the shutter 9 is returned to its. initial position, engages the counter arm 17, and actuates the counter in connection with this other conduit or ballot, thus counting a ballot for attorney general in this other column, but not in the straight party column. "In the same manner a voter may cast his ballot for any other candidate, and have it registered and counted automatically, in the manner described, or may cast it for an individual candidate, and'have his ballot deposited in a compartment therefor in the receptacle, which ballot will be counted by the election board by removing theballots from the individual compartments therefor.

It may be noted: as a desirable feature of this machine, that if a voter inserts the-disk in a wrong conduit, it may beremovcd therefrom and' placed in the intended and proper,

conduit, at any time before the voter steps off 'the platform shifting the shutter 9 and permitting thedisk to pass into the recepta ole below beyond recovery.

Wh at I claim as my invention is:

1. 'In a voting machine, a plurality of stationary conduits adapted to receive and permit thepassage therethrough of disks, a slidable slotted registering shutter .at the discharge. of the conduits adapted by being shifted from registration to close the conduits tem orarily durin the process of loading the cont uits with disks, a de ressible platform connected operativelyto tfie shutter and disposed to he stepped on and thereby depressed )y the voter as becomes to the voting machine whereby the shutter is-moved and the conduits are closed ,while the'voter holds the platform-down. 3 i

2. In a voting machine, a plurality of stationary disk-tal ing conduits, a slidable apertured-registering shutter at the discharge of the conduitsheld-in initial position by a spring, a rock-shaft having an arm adapted to engage andmOVe the shutter against the action of the spring, and means for oscillating the rock-shaft.

'3. In a'fvotin machine, a plurality of stationary diskta ting conduits,' a registering apertured s lidable shutter held in initial position by a spring, a rock-shaft having an arm adapted to engage. and move the shutter agamst the action of the spring, means for swinging spring-actuated bell hammer, and

means'actuated by the oscillating rock-shaft A ada tedto trip the hammer and permit it to stril e the bell.

' 4. In a voting machine. frame, two lates, a plurality one of the p ates the arms of which counters project through slots in that late, means on the other plate adapted on t is moving of .a

a supporting of counters on oscillating the rock-shaft, an alarm bell, a

plate to engage said arms and move them thereby actuating the counters, and means for moving said plate.

5. In a voting machine, a supporting frame, two plates, counters representing in scribed candidates attached to one of the plates said counters having arms which extend through slots in that plate, and means on the other late for actuating said arms and counters y the movement of a plate,

and means on said plates related to each conduit passages, a shutter plate provided with slots initially registering with the slots in the" conduit plate, ways on, which the shutter plate is mounted movable edgewise alongside the conduit plate to such extent as to put the slots therein .out of registration with the slots in the conduit plate and. close them, and a spring adapted to hold the shutter plate in initial position yieldingly.

7. In a voting machine, a conduit plate provided with conduits on and leading thr'o ugh slots in the plate'and ada' ted to re" VCGIVG disks therein, andcashutter p ate along side the conduit plate and provided with slots initially'registering with the conduits of the conduit plate, the platesrbei-ng so dis-l posed that by a movement'of one of them the conduits are synchronously-all closed by the shutter plate at the idischargingends thereof.

8. In a voting machine, a conduit plate provided with disk-taking'conduits leading through the plate, a shiftable shutter plate alongside the conduit plate and rovided with slots registering with the condults of the conduit plate, 'means adapted to hold the shutter plate in initial registering position yieldingly and to return it to initial osition when shifted therefrom and release, countors on the shutter plate, and means carried by the conduit'plate adapted to engage the arms of the counters and actuate the coun.

ters when the shutter late returns'to initial position after being shifted therefrom.

9'. In a voting machine, a conduit plate provided with disk-taking conduits leading through-the J'plate, a shiftable shutter plate alongside the conduit plate and provided with slots registering with the conduits of the conduitplate, means adapted to hold the shutter plate in initial registering position yieldingly and to'return it to initial position when shifted therefrom and released, counters on the shutter plate, and disks fitted for and adapted to be received in said conduits and held on the shifted shutter plate and, when the shutter plate is returned to position, to engage and trip the arms of the couneeaose ters belonging to the conduits having such disks therein.

10. In a votin machine, a conduit plate provided with a p urality of disk-taking conduits arranged in a column and leading through the plate, a shiftable shutter-plate alongside the conduit plate, counters on the shutter plate belon ing to the conduits, means for returning the shifted shutter plate When-released to. initial position, slidable looking bars on the conduits of the column other than the master conduit, said locking bars each having a member disposed to be placed by the shifting of the bar in the path of a swinging arm of thecounter, a disk adapted to be placed in the master conduit, and means actuated by the disk being placed in the master conduit to shift the locking bars of all the other conduits of the column into the paths of the swinging arms on the counters.

I 11. In a voting machine, a plurality of disk-conduits, swinging keepers in those conduits adapted when locked in normal osition to prevent the insertion of disks in t ose conduits, and means connected with the conduits but operating upon said keepers whereby by inserting a disk in any one of saidconduits the keepers of one or more otherconduits are locked in normal position so long as the initial disk remains in the first conduit.

12. In a voting machine, a plurality of disk conduits, keepers mounted movably in some or all of the, conduits adapted when locked in initial position tov prevent the insertion of disks in those conduits having the keepers, a bar movable alongside each conduit such bar being provided with a pin extending in slots therefor across the conduit, the pin being ada ted, to be engaged and moved with its bar by inserting a disk in the conduit, and means actuated by the moving of said bar to lock the keeper in each of the other conduits.

13. In a voting machine, a plurality of disk conduits arranged in a rowin alinement, keepers mounted m'ovably in the conduits adapted when locked in initial position to prevent the insertion of disks'therein, a movable bar alongside each conduit held yieldingly in initial position, a movable coupling bar alongside the several conduits of the row of conduits and provided with means disposed to engage and lock the keepers in ini tial position when the bar is moved up thcreto before such kee der is moved away from initial position, and means extending in slots therefor across the conduits coupling up the two movable bars so as to compel concurrcnt movement thereof when actuated by a disk insertedin one of the conduits ol' the row and lock the keepers in the conduits of the row other than that receiving the disk.

14. In a voting machine, a plurality of disk conduits arranged in a column one of tion to lock the said conduits being a master conduit, mov able keepers in conduits. of the column,

means adjacent to the conduits adapted to be actuated by the insertion of a disk in the.

master conduit whereby the keepers in the other conduits are locked in position closingkeepers in conduits of. the column, a rockshaft alongside the conduits, a wrist rod mountedin radial arms on .the rock-shaft so as to be capable of being swung up to lock the keepers in initial position, and means related to the master conduit and connected to the rock-shaft whereby by the insertion of adisk in the master conduit the rock-shaft will be oscillated bringing thewrist rod into posikeepers. j

16. In a voting machine, a plurality of disk conduits arranged in a column one of said conduits being a masterconduit, movable keepers in conduits of the column, a rock-shaft alongside the conduits, a wrist rod mounted inradial arms on the rockshaft and so as to bar on-each of the conduits other than the master conduit adapted to be engaged and shifted by the swinging wrist tilting arm of thes rod on the rock-shaft, and a series of shiftable counters eachjprovide'd with a tiltin arm adapted to be engaged by the shifted locking bar thus laced in the path. of the ifting counter. c

17. In a voting machine, a plurality of disk conduits arranged in a column, one of said conduits'beinga master conduit, a rockshaft alongsidethe conduits, a wrist rod on radial arms on fthe'rock-sh'aft, a movable 1 when shifted the i I connect it o locking bar on'each' ofthe-conduits other than the master conduit arranged to be engaged and moved endwise on the rock-shaft, springs movable locking bars yieldingly to the wrist rod, means related to'the master conduit 'and connected to the rock-shaft adapted by the.

insertion of a disk. in themaster conduit to oscillate the rock-shaft and move the look: ing bars, and counters provided with'tilting actuating .arms mounted shiftably so that arms of the counters will be engaged and tilted by the locking bars.

18. In a voting machine, a plurality of disk conduits arranged in a row in alinement and adapted to receive disks therein edgewise, a spring-held shiftable locking bar alongside each conduit, a shiftable coupling bar alongside the several conduits of the row, means extending across the conduits adapted to erativelywithea'ch of said looking bars an compel co-incident'in'ovements of the coupling bar and locking bars, shift: v

be capable of being swung up .to lockthe keepers in initial position, a movable locking ing arm 0 passed through by the wrist rod-- connecting the.

21. In avoting v H plate fixed the case and having conduit shutter adjacent and related to able counters related to the conduits and provided with actuating arms, and disks adapted singly to be inserted and held tempoa shifting counter is engaged and tilted. v

machine, a plurality of disk conduits arranged in a row in alinement and adapted to receive disks therein 'edge- 19. In a voting Wise, swinging keepers mounted in the conduits adapted-when locked in initialposition e conduits against receiving disks' to close t therein, a spring-held shiftable locking bar alongside each conduit adapted when in a shifted second position to inter'ce t and'tilt a-shifting counter arm, a shiftab e cou ling bar alongside the several conduits of the row, means extending across the conduits severally and adapted to connect the coupling bar and the locking bars operatively and s5 compel coincident movements of the coupling bar, and the lockingbars, means on the coupling "bar adapted to engage the non-tilting keepers and lock thelr conduits against receivin when the locking bars are shi ted to a third position, and a disk adapted to a conduit of the row of conduits and shift the coupling bar and the locking bars bringin the lockingbars to said third position-an locking the keepers, the disk being thereby placed in'position'to itself intercept the tilta shifting counter.

them 111 position closingdisks thereinv be inserted in' Q20. In a voting machine, asupporting I case, a conduit plate with plurality of conduits on the with the slots, the'conduits conduit slots, a plate registering being arranged in columns, disks adapted to be placed in and the conduits, a movable shutterlatehaving slots registering with the con uits, means for shifting the shutterplateclosing the conduits, counters on the conduits except and disposed by the insertion of a disk in a shutter-plate adjacent and related to the to a master condui't'in each column, means connected with 'theiconduits 1 each counter of'the conduitcolunin upon the reshifting of the shutter-plate.

machine, a case, a conduit slots therein and conduits thereon registering with the slots and arranged in columns an transverse rows, disks adapted to. be placed in and passed throughthe conduits, a movhaving slots able spring-held shutter plate registering with the conduits,- means for shifting the shutter plate closing the conduits at their lower ends, keepers for closing the conduits'at their upper ends, counters on the the conduits except at a masterconduit of eachcolumn, a spring-held rock-shaft with a Wrist rod alongsideeach column ofv conduits ada ted to be shifted'to lock-the keepers, a slida le locking bar on each conduit, a shiftable coupling bar alongside each transverse row of conduits, means coupling'the coupling bar to the several locking bars on a row of conduits where'- by by the insertion of a disk in a master conduit the keepers will be locked in that column of'conduits and by inserting a disk in a conduit of any row of'conduits but in another column the coupling bar of that row of conduits will be shifted locking the keepers of the other conduits in that row of conduits.

22. In a voting machine, a case, a diskreceiving conduit, means for automatically closing the conduit by the voter during his presence at the voting machine, a counter, and means actuated by said first enumerated means for operating said counter.

23. In a voting machine, a case, diskre ceiving and transmitting conduits mounted in the case, a general com artment in the case for receiving and holc ing disks transmitted by a number of the conduits, compartments for receiving and holding separately disks transmitted through other conduits severally, and a door in the case provided for access to these separate disk-holding compartments.

24, In a voting machine a supporting and containing frame, two plateseither of which is reciprocally movable as to the other,

. counters attached to one of the plates, disk conduits attached to the other of said plates, disks adapted to be inserted in the conduits, and means disposed by the inserted disks for actuating the counters upon the reciprocal movement of the plates.

,25. In a voting machine, a supporting and containing case, two plates movable one as to the other to one of which plates counters are attached and to the other of which plates means are attached for actuating the counters, and voting disks adapted to disposing the means for actuating the counters.

26. In a voting machine, disk ballots, two plates movable one as to the other, tov one of which plates are attached counters whose actuating arms extend through registering slots in both plates and to the other of which plates are attached means, disposed by the disk ballots ,for intercepting the path of said arms of the counters at the shifting of the plates, and means for shifting the plates.

27. In a voting machine a supporting and containing case, two plates movable reciprocally one as to the other, on one of which .plates is mounted counting devices and to the other of which plates are attached means for intercepting and actuating the counters by the reclprocal action of the plates, and disks adapted by their insertion in the machine to dispose the parts of said intercepting and actuating means.

28. In combination, means for taking, holding temporarily and discharging synchronously a plurality of inserted disks, said containing case, two plates reciprocally movable one as to the other, to one of which plates are attached disk conduits, disks adapted to be inserted in said conduits, and co nters attached to the. other of said plates adapted to be actuated by the inserted disks in the reciprocal movement of the-plates.

30. In a mechanical voting device, a ballot conduit consisting of retaining and guiding walls, and a tilting keeper mounted yieldingly near and projecting into the ballot passage-way oi the conduit the keeper when in locked position being adapted to prevent the insertion of-a ballot in the conduit but when not so locked to yield and allow the ballotto pass into the conduit.

31. In a mechanical voting device, a ballot conduit consisting of retaining and guiding walls and a tilting keeper having diverging arms mounted pivotally adjacent to the passage-way of the conduit one arm of the keeper-being held across the passage-way of the conduit by the weight oi the other and heavier arm, the keeper being adapted when in locked initial position to prevent the insertion of a ballot into the conduit but when not so locked to be tilted by the insertion of a ballot to allow the ballot to pass into the conduit.

32. A voting machine, comprising a supporting and containing i'rame, two slotted plates one reciprocally movable as to the other, counting devices attached to the lower plate the actuating arms of which protrude above the upper plate through constantly registering slots in bothplates, and disk conduits on the upper plate each conduit having a way or slot transversely through it to admit of the free passage of the counterarm when the conduit is emptied and the lates are shifted, the counter arm being a apted to be projected and held in the transverse slot by the reciprocable movement of the plates under the action of a disk insertedforcibly into the slots in the plates.

33. In a voting machine, a containing and supporting frame provided with two slotted plates one slidable upon the other," counters attached to the lower plate whose actuating arms extend through constantly registering slots in both plates into the paths of disk conduits, disk conduits attached to the upabove the other having constantly registering slots in both plates and cross slots that pass into and out of register as a plate is shifted, counters attached to the lower plate and provided with actuating arms extending into said slots in the plates, disk conduits attached to the upper plate co-incident with the cross slots of that plate said conduits be-- ing adapted to receive and hold voting disks when the cross slots are out of register and to carry the disks against the arms of the counters and actuate them when the plates are shifted to the extent of bringing the cross slots into register and allowing the disks to drop through both plates, and means for shifting the plates.

35. In a voting machine, a supporting and containing frame, two plates reciprocally 36. A voting machine, comprising a con-- taining and sup orting frame, two slotted plates reciproca y slidable one upon the other, .counters attached to the lower plate the actuating arms of which counters extend through registering slots and slightly above the plane of the upper plate, and movable stops attached to the upper plate for engaging the arms of-the counters upon the reciprocal movement of the plates, and means for shifting a plate. I

37. In a voting machine, a supporting and containing frame, two plates reciprocally movable one above the other and having constantly registeringslots in both plates, counters attached to the lower plate having arms extending through said slots sa'id counters being arranged in a column, slidable stops attached to the upper plate adapted to be moved into the paths of the counterarms and to actuate them upon theshifting of the plates, a lever extending along the column to which the sli'dable stops are connected, the master disk conduit in which means are provided for moving the lever and thus throwing the stops in to the paths of the counter arms by the insertion of a voting disk in said master conduit, and means for shifting a plate.

38. In a voting machine, two plates movable one upon the other, counters arranged in a column attached to the lower plate the ac:

tuating arms of -which counters extend through constantly registering slots in both plates, slidable stops attached to the upper' plate adapted to be moved into the paths-of the counter arms, a common lever to which all the slidable stops in the column are attached, a master disk conduit at the head of the column provided with means for actuating the lever and moving the stops into the paths of the'counter arms by the insertion of a voting disk .in the master conduit, and means for shifting the plates whereby the" stops engage the counter arms and actuate the1n..

39. Ina voting machine, a plurality of disk conduits arranged in rows said conduits being provided with lockable tilting keepers, a slidingbar extending along each row of conduits, means attached to the bar for simultaneously looking all the untilted keepers of the row by the sliding of the bar, and means related to the conduits and connected with the bar for sliding the bar by the insertion of a disk in any conduit of the row.

40. In a voting machine, voting disks, a plurality of disk conduits arranged in columns each conduit being provided with a lockable tilting-keeper adapted when locked to prevent the insertion of a voting disk, counters whose actuating arms travel in transverse slots through the conduits, sliding stops adapted to cover these transverse slots, a rocking lever extending along the column to which the sliding stops are connected, and a master conduit'in which means are provided whereby by the insertion of a disk in such master conduit the lever is operated to move the sliding stops into obstruction of the transverseslots in the conduits and incidentally to look all the keepers of the column.

41. In a voting machine, .a supporting frame, a plurality of counters, a plate to one side of which are-attached said counters having actuating arms which project through slots in the plate into the pathway of operating means on a second plate for actuatingsaid counter arms, said second plate, means on said second plate for actuating the counter arms by the shifting of a plate, and means for shifting a plate.v

42. In a voting machine, a sup orting frame, a shiftable plate to one side 0 which are attached counters whose arms project through slots irf said plate, means on. the

other side of said plate adapted on the shifting of the plate =forintercepting and actuating the counterarms projeetin through the plate, and means for shifting the plate. f 43. A voting machine, comprising a supporting and containing frame,t'wo plates one of which is shiftable, counterson one of said of theactuating arms of said counters, and mechanical means for forcing the counter arms against said disks and actuating the counters.

45. In a 'voting machine, a supporting frame, two plates one of which is shiltable, counters attached to one of the plates the arms of which counters project through registering slots in both plates, and means on the.

other plate for actuating the counter arms by the shifting of a plate.

46. In a voting'machine, a supporting frame, two plates one of which is shiftable, counters attached to one of the platestthe arms of which counters reject through registering slots in both 1) ates, means on the other plate for. actuating the counter arms by the shifting of a plate, and means forshifting said plate.

47 in a voting machine, a containing case, a counter supporting plate, a plurality of counters, disposable stops for intercepting and actuating the counter arms, and voting disks adapted by their insertion in. the ma chine to dispose sa'idstops.

418. in ,a voting.machine, a supporting case, a plurality of counters mounted on a shiltahle plate, said plate, votingdisks, means for temporarily holding said disks in the pathway oil the counters whereby the counters are actuated upon the shitting ol the plate, anduneans for shifting the plate.

45). In a voting machine, a supporting frame, a plate to which a plurality o't' noun tors are attached, said counters, eountm'arms that project through slots in said plate, means for actuating said counter arms, and. means for bringing said actuating means into and out of contact with the counter arms projecting through the plate.

In testimony whereof, I alliX my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES W. BOWHON Witnesses:

W. H. DAGGETT, BRUCE DODGE.

lit) 

